Worldly treasures offer diverse shopping

Bigira Kirokiro is the proprietor of African Corner at 779 W. 19th St. Suite F, in Costa Mesa. Kirokiro was born and raised in Burundi and now travels Africa extensively to support his humanitarian projects and bring back great finds for his shop. African artwork, instruments and home decor fill the shop along with clothing and jewelry. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Take a detour off the beaten path of holiday shopping districts. See how ethnic shops can surprise you. Their often-handmade items come with intriguing backgrounds, which add to the mystique of being crafted half a world away. There is a good chance such finds can turn out to be a loved one's treasure.

Bigira Kirokiro, the proprietor of African Corner in Costa Mesa, was born and raised in Burundi. Kirokiro now travels to villages in Africa to support his humanitarian projects and brings back finds for his customers. The store features a range of African instruments, dinnerware, jewelry, clothing and carved figurines. A descendent of royal Burundi lineage, Kirokiro sells a nimba statue from Ghana, which marks the home of royalty. The proceeds from all his drum sales help fund two schools and a free recording studio in villages in Rwanda and Burundi.

Brothers Nestor and Florencio Blanquel are two of five sibling furniture makers from Guadalajara, Mexico. The brothers run Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton, which they fill with the rustic Mexican furniture and wrought iron constructed by members of the family back home. When not driving back and forth from Mexico, the brothers are restocking the shop with Mexican folk art, tiles or other products. The store also does custom orders in furniture and wrought iron.

At the Bowers Museum Gallery Store, director of retail sales Pauline Rusterholtz has a knack for creating a feast for ethnic art aficionados. Rusterholtz buys many of the pieces from artisans. There are plenty of items signed by the artists. Quality is the standard at this gallery, where a rich variety of cultures is represented for those who want to reflect the world's diversity in their homes.

Bigira Kirokiro is the proprietor of African Corner at 779 W. 19th St. Suite F, in Costa Mesa. Kirokiro was born and raised in Burundi and now travels Africa extensively to support his humanitarian projects and bring back great finds for his shop. African artwork, instruments and home decor fill the shop along with clothing and jewelry. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This intricate fetish doll comes from the Congo and is meant to provide protection for the owner. Bigira Kirokiro, proprietor of African Corner in Costa Mesa, visits Africa yearly and brings back great finds. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Carved wooden giraffes are some of the whimsical African decor items at African Corner in Costa Mesa. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Children's African instruments are sold at African Corner in Costa Mesa. Proprietor Bigira Kirokiro uses the proceeds from the drums to fund two schools and a free recording studio in villages in Rwanda and Burundi through his non-profit, The Moses Fund. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
These candleholders and plate are made of soap stone from Kenya and can be found at African Corner at 779 W. 19TH St. Suite F in Costa Mesa. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Grazing zebras are depicted on a wax-resist textile at African Corner at 779 W. 19TH St. Suite F in Costa Mesa. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This antique medicine man's healing bed, is priced at $600 and would be a coffee table like no other. The piece can be found at African Corner in Costa Mesa. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
These painted ceramic dishes are from Dolores Jidalgo of Guanajuato, Mexico range from $25 to $70 at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brothers Nestor and Florencio Blanquel bring furniture and wrought iron items made by their family in Guadalajara, Mexico, along with a wide selection of folk art from throughout Mexico. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brothers Nestor and Florencio Blanquel sell furniture and wrought iron items at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton made by family members in Mexico. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton is a shop brimming with Mexican furniture, folk art, wrought iron, tiles and more. Brothers Nestor and Florencio Blanquel bring furniture and wrought iron items made by their family members in Guadalajara, Mexico along with a wide choice of folkart. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Blanquel brothers made this carved door locally. Most of their rustic furniture and wrought iron is made by family members in Mexico and sold at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton. The store also specializes in special order items. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Huichol indians of Mexico create intricate beaded designs. This deer head is available at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton. The shop is packed with Mexican items. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A variety of painted Mexican tile can be found at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton ranging from $3.00 to $8.00 apiece. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A wide variety of regional Mexican folk art can be found at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This colored blown glass set was made in Tlaquepaque, Mexico and sold at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton. The vase sells for $35 and the glasses for $10 each. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Rabbits embellish this ceramic piece from Tonola Jalisco, which is famous for its burnished finish. The piece sells for $100 at Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Blanquel Popular Art in downtown Fullerton is a shop filled with Mexican rustic furniture, folk art, wrought iron, tiles and more. Brothers Nestor and Florencio Blanquel bring furniture and wrought iron items made they their family in Guadalaja, Mexico along with a wide choice of folk art. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A bozo puppet from Mali is one of the many hand-made items available at the Bowers Museum Gallery Store and is priced at $375. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mary and Joseph are part of a Latin-American crèche priced at $95.00 at the Bowers Museum Gallery Store. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This lavishly detailed hand-painted lacquered Russian-made box is signed and priced at $300 at the Bowers Museum Gallery Store. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This shell dish with a silver fish was made in Vietnam and is available at the Bowers Museum Gallery Store for $70. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Hand-painted matryoshka dolls also known as Russian nesting dolls, refers to a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. These are available at the Bowers Museum Gallery Store. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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